Unless steps are taken to reverse the decision of the United States' Senate with regard to the abolition fof ocean-mail subsidies, the shipping Interests of America are about 0 receive a remarkably—severe blow. Wiping out. $26,500,000 from the Post Office and Treasury Appropriation Bil, which it was proposed to grant In subsidies to US. shipping in ox-change for carrying the mails, the Senate has substituted the more modest sum of $4,500,000 for the ear-Fage of mail on the poundage basis. For some years past the amount of assistance which the shipping of the United States has been receiving from the government has been watched with envious eyes by similar interests In other countries. Tt was felt that a degree of competition was ereaied with the unsubsidised mer. cantile marine of other countries could not possibly hope to meet, with tthe result that other nations followed sult, until even at last Great Britain was obliged to fall Into line, but only so far as @ comparatively small subsidy for" the rehabilitation "of tramp shipping was concerned. it is not likely that the operators of shipping lines in the United States will Bccept this decision of the, Senate without very considerable "protest and a great amount of argument is Likely to ensue before a final decision made. Nations competing with the United States mercantile marine will, of unnaturally, hope that the Senate's ection will stand, for they will then bbe In a better position to continue the struggle with American shipping which has been giving them cause for great concern. Most important carrying nations would. like to see
out, though it is clear that, without subsidy system completely wiped some countries would' be quite tunable to keep their shipping afloat,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.